Southern California -- this just in

2 firefighters hurt in electrical blast in Yorba Linda

An electrical explosion in an underground vault in Yorba Linda on Sunday night knocked two firefighters off their feet and sent them to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities reported.

A Southern California Edison vault at Yorba Linda and Fairmont boulevards had an two initial explosions about 7:30 p.m., sending black smoke rising into the night sky.

An Orange County fire captain and firefighter who came to investigate the first explosions were struck by a third blast while walking near the vault, said Capt. Marc Stone of the Orange County Fire Authority.

"The third explosion caught our firefighters off guard and blew them back 10 feet," Stone said. "It sent a fireball 20 feet in the air."

Fortunately, he said, both firefighters were wearing helmets and full protective gear. They were taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and treated for minor injuries.

The explosion was caused by failed electrical equipment, knocking out power to 3,385 customers, said Paul Klein, a Southern California Edison spokesman. Power was restored to more than half of those households within a couple of hours. All power was restored by 10:15.